One of the best things about going on a G Adventures trip is meeting our tour leaders — we call them CEOs (Chief Experience Officers), since they're so integral to the G experience. Not are our CEOs equipped with all the knowledge and know-how to help you get the best out of our tours — they can also recommend some of the best locals-only hotspots for amazing eats. With that in mind, we asked CEOs from some of the regions to which we travel to give us their top picks for great food in their respective countries of origin. Here: the Top 10 things to do in Oslo, Norway, courtesy of CEO Trine Bjartung.
1. Korketrekkeren (only an option in the winter): Take the number 1 metro line out of the city centre and up to Frognerseteren. Make sure you sit on the left side for the best view. Rent a toboggan and helmet — or bring your own — and sleigh down “Korketrekkeren” (the cork screw) to Midtstuen. From there take the metro back up and do it again! The track is theOslo winter olympics bobsleigh course from 1952, and it is two kilometres long!
2. Nordmarka (year-round): Take the number 1 metro line out of the city centre and up to Frognerseteren. Who would think that there's such beautiful nature so close to the city? In the winter, go skiing; the rest of the year, go hiking. Bring your own lunch or visit one of the huts along the trail for hot chocolate and homemade buns.
3. Holmenkollen (year-round): Visit the ski museum and go all the way to the top of the jump for an amazing view (if it it’s not too foggy).
4. Vigelandsparken (Frognerparken) (year-round): A large park with more than 200 sculptures made by one man, Gustav Vigeland. His piece Monolitten gets lots of attention, but a little angry boy called Sinataggen is the most popular.
5. Festivals: There's almost always a festival happening in Oslo, from celebrations of food to outdoor music extravaganzas. Check out the city's festival calendar to see what's on while you're there.
6. Slottet: During the summer the royal castle opens up for guided tours, during which you can see where the Norwegian King and Queen live, work, and entertain.
7. Operahuset: Take a walk on the roof of Oslo's opera house, and maybe go on a guided tour — or even buy tickets to a performance inside.
8. Hovedøya (during summer months): Don your swimwear and join the locals on a ferry out to the little island in Oslofjorden. Enjoy the sand and surf until the sun goes down (which happens at around 10:30).
9. Akershus festning: Imagine yourself hundreds of year back in Akershus fortress on top of the cliff right in the city centre.
10. Haralds vaffel: a Swedish student in Norway saw moneymaking potential in all the waffle-loving Norwegians out on a Sunday stroll and started selling waffles out the window of his student flat. Now, he's opened a proper waffle shop! It's definitely worth a stop (and a bite).
Getting there
Ready for a trip to Oslo? G Adventures can get you there. Check out our small group tours to Norway here.
